Jane Bickmore Jaffer, the UK’s most affable author in Oman and pioneer of the Let’s Read initiative, calls to mind her meetings with the Queen of England and different members of the Royal family

Like many baby girls born in the 1950’s, following Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s coronation on June 2, 1953, I was given the name Elizabeth as one of my Christian names.
As a young girl growing up in the 60’s in London, we would often see black and white footage on television of the young queen visiting hospitals or opening new centres around England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. In 1972, Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was still very active. The royal matriarch was the last empress consort of India and a link to a bygone age.

Tea with Queen Mother
Many people remember her visiting bomb sites in London during the Second World War. I remember, one day, the Queen Mother, came to visit our school. As I was acting Head Girl at the time, I had the task of showing the Queen Mother around the school and having afternoon tea with her.

The Queen Mother was very soft spoken. I offered her a plate of scones which had been made by girls in the house craft lesson. She eyed the currants suspiciously, and graciously declined! That memory remains etched on my mind forever.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had a wonderful relationship with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos over the past decades. She first visited Oman in 1979, as part of a Gulf Tour, the year before I arrived in Oman in 1980. We were delighted when His Majesty Sultan Qaboos went on a state visit to the UK in March 1982 but, as we didn’t have satellite television or the internet in those days, we weren’t able to watch the proceedings live but only saw the photo in the newspaper days later.

His Majesty was greeted by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. He also met Margaret Thatcher who was the British prime minister at that time.

Privilege to see Princess Diana
I remember. the great excitement we all felt when we heard the news that HRH Prince Charles and Princess Diana were coming to visit Oman in 1986. The children from my nursery school lined the street hoping for a glimpse of the royal couple but, for security reasons, the tinted windows of their car remained firmly shut.

I did, however, attend a polo match at the Royal Stables in which Prince Charles and Major Ferguson (Fergie’s father) were playing. Princess Diana sat coyly watching the match and presented her husband with a trophy for the winning team.

Present through Prince of Wales
Years later, HRH Prince Charles paid a visit to Oman in 2003. I believe, he stayed with the British Ambassador, H E Stuart Laing and his wife, Sibella, on that occasion. They knew each other very well as they had all studied at Cambridge University together.

On that occasion, I was privileged to give Prince Charles a copy of my poetry book – Women on the Edge – to present to Queen Elizabeth II. I have no idea if she received it!

Meeting Her Majesty

In 2010, my husband and I were honoured to be invited to the Morning Garden Party in honour of Queen Elizabeth II at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Al Rowdah, Muscat, on November 27. It was hosted by the late British ambassador, Noel Guckian, and his wife Lorna.

Hundreds of children from the British School Muscat and the cub scouts, led by Sonia Carr, lined the entrance, waving flags and cheering as Her Majesty arrived with HRH Prince Philip. A lone piper stood on the rock above the Residence and played a rousing melody to welcome the queen.

I must say, the Queen looked as cool as a cucumber, dressed in a lemon-yellow dress and matching hat. She must have been sweltering in the heat but she didn’t show it. Years of dutiful standing, walking and chatting to strangers, had really given her enormous stamina. She was already 84 years old then.

The Queen showed great interest in everyone she was introduced to. It really is quite amazing that a woman of 96 years of age was still carrying out her duties until the very end. In fact, she met the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, just days before she passed away on September 8.

Up, close with Camilla

In 2016, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, Charles and Camilla, visited Oman. As Camilla, who is now the Queen Consort to King Charles III, is an avid reader and indeed has started The Reading Room, a hub for literary communities around the world, which celebrates literature in all its forms, the British Embassy suggested the Duchess may like to visit the Let’s Read Bookshop and the Children’s Library in Oman.

It was an absolute honour for me, members of Dar Al Atta’a, (our parent organisation) and our team of Let’s Read volunteers to welcome Camilla. We founded Let’s Read in 2007 with the aim to promote the love of reading to children in Oman.

I remember, we stood next to the Maktabati mobile library, ready to welcome Camilla to our small charity bookshop which was, at that time, in the Qurum Commercial Complex (CCC). I was surprised the complex had not been closed for the occasion. It was quite funny to see shoppers exiting Al Fair with their trolleys, looking completely stunned to see Camilla coming down the escalator!

We had set up a tented area in the atrium and invited children from MIS to meet the Duchess, to sing to her, and to show her the mobile library. Camilla then visited the new Children’s Public Library and met many dignitaries, chief donors, and children there. It was such an amazing visit!

Privilege at Buckingham Palace
In 2018, the British Embassy informed me that I would be granted the MBE for services to education in Oman. I was completely stunned by the news and so honoured. I visited Buckingham Palace on October 31, 2018, just days after Let’s Read had opened a new Let’s Read Charity Bookshop and children’s library bus on the third floor in Oman Avenues Mall.

I had written to the authorities requesting tickets for my family. Only three tickets could be granted. But, with three sons and my husband, I needed four tickets. How could I choose who would stay behind? I devised a royalty quiz and told my sons the one who got the worst score would have to stay behind.

Fortunately, I told the palace about my plan and they kindly granted me an extra ticket. It was a wonderful day full of pomp and ceremony. Our car drove through the gates of the palace and into the inner courtyard. It was so grand!

Chat with Prince William
An orchestra played on the balcony above the Ballroom in Buckingham Palace as our guests filed in and sat down. HRH Prince William was standing on a podium for the investitures. I was shaking like a leaf as I walked forward and curtsied.
HRH Prince William immediately put me at ease, questioning me about Let’s Read.

He said that he loved Oman and hoped to visit again soon. He then pinned the medal onto my lapel and I walked over to join the other wonderfully inspiring people who had been honoured that day. It was so thrilling! I will never forget that day.

As we mourn the demise of Her Majesty the Queen and prepare for her funeral on September 19, I think, it is important to say that the monarchy has given incredible continuity to the UK. Political leaders come and go, but the Queen had been a constant on the throne for 70 years.

(As told to Hubert Vaz)